Business Development Manager, Defense

ABOUT US: Astro Mechanica is a vertically integrated aerospace company building a faster, more connected future. Our mission is to democratize high-speed flight by making supersonic travel flexible, accessible, and sustainable. We believe that rapid, on-demand, point-to-point global mobility will become the new standard for moving people and goods across the planet. To achieve this, we are integrating our advanced airframe and engine technologies—which include Duality™, our proprietary dual-use propulsion system—with a new flight operations model to make supersonic transport as efficient and economical as commercial air travel is today. In the near term, we are developing adaptable, high-speed systems to close aircraft performance gaps for the United States government. WHO WE ARE: We’re a team of passionate engineers dedicated to advancing aerospace. We’re generalists with specialist depth, united by a flat structure and a shared obsession with building things that work well. We move fast, stay pragmatic, and let engineering excellence speak louder than hierarchy. WHO YOU ARE: Astro Mechanica is seeking a Growth and Capture Manager to join our growing team. The ideal candidate is a driven, resourceful professional with experience in business development or capture management—ideally within the defense aerospace sector, particularly the U.S. Air Force or Navy ecosystem. You’re comfortable navigating both government and industry relationships, and you know how to translate complex technical programs into compelling business narratives. Your background might include several years at a major defense prime —or you may be transitioning out of active duty with a strong understanding of military acquisition, industry engagement, and operational priorities. You have working knowledge or experience in Government Acquisition, Requirements, and Budget processes and understand procurement and decision cycles and timelines. You thrive at the intersection of strategy, storytelling, and execution: building decks, maintaining CRM hygiene, driving outreach, and shaping winning proposals. You have the executive presence and communication skills to represent Astro Mechanica in high-level meetings with senior military leaders, government officials, and industry executives in both classified and unclassified environments. You can distill complex topics into clear value propositions and shaping narratives that resonate with stakeholders from the flight line to the E-ring. Your work at Astro Mechanica will have a direct impact on how our disruptive aerospace technologies address customer needs and accelerate U.S. defense capabilities. In this role, your mission will be to help define and execute growth and capture strategies, influence product development, and managethe business pipeline from lead generation through capture and proposal. WHAT YOU’LL DO: Develop and execute growth and capture strategies across the defense and commercial aerospace sectors, with a focus on U.S. Air Force and Navy programs. Lead customer engagement: identify opportunities, build relationships, and shape customer requirements through outreach, events, and briefings. Own business development collateral — including capture decks, strategy documents, customer presentations, and executive briefings. Maintain and improve customer tracking systems and ensure CRM data integrity. Execute capture planning, including opportunity assessment, solution strategies, competitive assessments, teaming strategies, win themes, and customer engagement strategies. Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, and leadership to align technical capabilities with customer needs. Leverage capture activities to develop compelling proposal strategies and prepare effective whitepapers and proposals that address customer needs and capability gaps Represent Astro Mechanica at conferences, customer industry days, partner events, and customer-site meetings—up to 25–40% travel required. Contribute to corporate strategy, identifying new markets, partnerships, and technology applications for dual-use systems. WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR: 5–8 years of relevant experience in business development, capture, or program management within aerospace, defense, or adjacent sectors. Experience engaging with Air Force or Navy programs—either as a uniformed officer, government staff, or industry representative. Strong communication skills—both written and verbal—with the ability to craft compelling narratives, whitepapers, and proposals and deliver executive-level presentations. Fluency in business tools, including CRM (Salesforce or similar), presentation software (PowerPoint, Google Slides), and document management. Proactive, detail-oriented, and adaptable—comfortable switching between strategy and execution in a fast-paced environment. Active Secret clearance preferred; eligibility for a Top Secret clearance required. Shipley Associates or similar formal proposal training preferred. Familiarity with aerospace systems or dual-use defense technology is a plus; technical background not required but highly valued. Candidates with experience at innovative defense firms, non-traditional defense contractors, or venture-back technology companies are especially encouraged to apply. Flexibility to work in fast-paced environment Attentive to detail and maintain a high level of quality in all work PERKS AND BENEFITS: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) 401(k) program and transparent stock option plan Self-managed and flexible time-off policy, including PTO, paid holidays, and sick time Flexible work environment Company-funded perks, including weekly team lunches and Astro Mechanica swag ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: At Astro Mechanica, we highly value in-office work to foster collaboration and strengthen our company culture. We consider working in the office five days a week an essential part of the employee's role. Astro Mechanica is an equal opportunity employer. We proudly recruit and hire a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.